HUD Charges
Churchill Downs with Violations
As reported by the Business
First: "The U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development has charged Churchill Downs Inc.,
and its subsidiary Arlington Park Racecourse LLC,
with violating the Fair Housing Act.
"A news release from the department said the
companies restricted racetrack workers and their
children to housing that consists of overcrowded
single-room units with no private bathrooms or air
conditioning, while offering workers without children
the option to live in housing that provides those
amenities.
"…Discriminatory housing assignment
practices violate the familial status provision
of the federal Fair Housing Act.
"…During the horseracing season of May
through September, Arlington Park, Churchill's racetrack
near Chicago, provides housing along the backstretch
of the track for employees of horse trainers and
their families.
"Up until late 2004, dorm units were provided
in eight buildings. In late 2004 and early 2005,
Arlington Park constructed two more dorm buildings,
for a total of 10 dorm buildings.
"Through the end of the 2004 racing season,
all families with children were assigned to two
of the buildings, the release said. During HUD's
investigation, racetrack owners and operators admitted
that families with children were specifically barred
from five of the buildings, and HUD charges that
the racetrack also excluded workers with children
from an another dorm building.
"Among other violations, HUD is charging the
owners and operators of the track with discriminatory
'steering,' or the publication of discriminatory
statements and preferences, and providing different
terms and conditions in housing based on familial
status, the release said…"
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